The Windsurfing Hall of Fame will hold its first official ceremony for the "Class of 2023" on 9 May at the legendary Defi Wind in Gruissan, southern France. The WHOF is thus taking a step out of the virtual world and into the real world, honouring the legends and pioneers of windsurfing in front of a large audience. The organisers are expecting 42-time world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Antoine Albeau, who won 25 world titles in a breathtaking career, and Mr "Irie Man" Brian Talma from Barbados, among others. From earlier years, US-9er Nevin Sayre, who was a regular on the World Tour in the early years, freestyle specialist Andrea Livingstone, who created unique moves on the original windsurfing boards and won many titles, and four-time women's world champion Nancy Johnson will be coming from the USA. Other participants include early pioneers of the sport, such as multiple world champion Ken Winner (US-1), former world speed surfing record holder Fred Haywood from Maui and former world champion and Dunki adversary Anders Bringdal from Sweden.
Jonathan Weston - Guardian of windsurfing history
Founded in 2021 by filmmaker Jonathan Weston, the Windsurfing Hall of Fame (WHOF) has so far inducted outstanding windsurfers in three classes in 2021, 22 and 23 and the list reads like a "Who's Who" of windsurfing history. There are also categories for "Shapers and Craftsmen", "Pioneers" and "Media". www.windsurfinghalloffame.com
The organisers of Defi Wind have created the largest windsurfing regatta in the world and are delighted to be able to present the first WHOF ceremony on a big stage. An estimated 1400 windsurfers will compete in strong Tramontana winds on one of the longest regatta courses of 40 kilometres in a sensational spectacle, which will be held for the 22nd time in 2024. Unusually, both amateurs and professionals can compete against each other on the same course. Windsurfers from all over the world come together to pass the Defi once in a lifetime. Around the regatta there are exhibition stands from numerous manufacturers and concerts in the evening https://defiwind.fr/en/
Phillipe Bru, inventor and organiser of the Defi, is delighted about the cooperation: "We are really excited to have the honour of hosting the first Windsurfing Hall of Fame ceremony at Defi Wind. Every windsurfer knows the legends of the sport and the development that has taken place over the last 50 years. To have these stars come to our event to receive this recognition in front of the public and fans is just a wonderful moment.
Windsurfin Hall of Fame - live in front of an audience for the first time
TV producer and director Cliff Webb, who has recently taken over the management of the Hall of Fame, said: "Phillipe and his team at Defi Wind were incredibly helpful and excited to have the ceremony as part of their event. To get back in touch with all these people after so many years to ask if they could come to France for the ceremony is just amazing and the response we have received from the Hall of Famer's involved is just outstanding, all are welcome. We still have a lot of work to do with our vision for the Hall of Fame, but we want to create a legacy for the sport to remember its greatest stars."
The Windsurfing Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on 9 May at approximately 7.30pm, subject to the completion of the races. The ceremony will take place on the outdoor main stage so that as many people as possible can be there to witness the "Oscars of windsurfing" and a great moment in the history of the sport.
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